How to choose your first Pokémon cards
Share
To get started collecting Pokémon cards, it helps to understand the basics: every card belongs to a specific set, comes in several rarities, and can be printed in French, English or Japanese. There's no need to buy everything at once: it's better to focus on one set or a few cards you really like.
Understanding sets
Pokémon cards are published set by set, release after release. Each set has its own logo, its own artwork and its own numbered card list. That's why the same card can exist in several versions depending on which set it was printed in.
Understanding rarities
Within a set, cards are ranked by rarity: from common and uncommon cards (the easiest to get), up to rare, ex, and special illustration cards that are much more sought after by collectors. The rarer a card, the less often it appears in boosters.
French, English or Japanese?
The same card can exist in several print languages. Some collectors prefer the French version (the language of their main collection), others specifically look for English or Japanese versions, sometimes for artwork exclusive to certain editions. On Nexus Cards TCG, each card's print language is always noted on its product page.
Where should you start?
If you're just starting out, two approaches work well:
- Buy single cards to target exactly the cards you're interested in, set by set, in our catalog of single Pokémon cards.
- Open boosters or displays to discover random cards from a recent set, available in our selection of sealed Pokémon products.
Tracking your collection
To avoid buying the same card twice, use our My Pokémon Collection page, which lets you check off the cards you already own, set by set.